U.S. patent number 4,062,655 [Application Number 05/166,551] was granted by the patent office on 1977-12-13 for artificial fire place logs which burn with colored flame and process for making same.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Business Controls, Inc.. Invention is credited to William Hughes Brockbank.
United States Patent |
4,062,655 |
Brockbank |
* December 13, 1977 |
Artificial fire place logs which burn with colored flame and
process for making same
Abstract
An artificial fireplace log containing pyrogenic coloring matter
which produces colored flames upon ignition of the log continuously
until the log is consumed. The log is composed of combustible
materials, preferably sawdust and wax, and contains pyrogenic
coloring matter distributed throughout the log mix. Additional
pyrogenic coloring matter is adhered to the surface of the log,
preferably along two adjacent longitudinal sides corresponding to
the top and front of the log as it is positioned in a fireplace.
The process of the invention includes the steps of preparing an
artificial log mix containing pyrogenic coloring matter, molding an
artificial log with the mix, and adhering pyrogenic coloring
matter, preferably in the form of dry, finely-divided particles,
along the surface of the log.
Inventors: |
Brockbank; William Hughes (Salt
Lake City, UT) |
Assignee: |
Business Controls, Inc. (Salt
Lake City, UT)
|
[*] Notice: |
The portion of the term of this patent
subsequent to January 25, 1989 has been disclaimed. |
Family
ID: |
25268558 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/166,551 |
Filed: |
July 27, 1971 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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835092 |
Jun 20, 1969 |
3637355 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
44/535; 44/530;
44/642; 44/600 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C06C
15/00 (20130101); C10L 11/04 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
C06C
15/00 (20060101); C10L 11/00 (20060101); C10L
11/04 (20060101); C10L 009/00 (); C10L
010/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;44/1R,1R,6,14 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Dees; Carl F.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Cornaby; K. S.
Parent Case Text
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Related Application
This is a divisional application of allowed parent application Ser.
No. 835,092 filed June 20, 1969 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,637,355
entitled "Artificial Fireplace Logs which Burn with Colored Flame."
Claims
I claim:
1. An artificial log having pyrogenic flame coloring matter,
comprising a shaped, hardened mixture of combustible materials
having an effective amount of pyrogenic flame coloring matter
distributed within the mixture, and having an additional effective
amount of pyrogenic flame coloring matter superficially adherent to
the surface thereof.
2. An artificial log as set forth in claim 1, wherein the shaped,
hardened mixture includes at least wax and sawdust.
3. An artificial log as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
superficially adherent pyrogenic flame coloring matter is in
particulate form.
4. An artificial log as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
superficially adherent pyrogenic flame coloring matter is
restricted to the localized surface area extending along the two
adjacent longitudinal sides of the log.
5. An artificial log as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one
longitudinal side of the log has a substantially flat surface for
resting upon log-supporting means in a fireplace.
6. A process for producing artificial logs exhibiting colored
flames when burned, comprising the steps of:
admixing particles of combustible material, a binder, and pyrogenic
flame coloring matter to form an artificial log mix;
molding an artificial log with said artificial log mix; and
adhering additional pyrogenic flame coloring matter superficially
to the surface of said artificial log.
7. A process as set forth in claim 6, wherein said adhering
pyrogenic flame coloring matter is applied to a localized surface
area of said log extending along two adjacent longitudinal sides of
the log.
8. A process as set forth in claim 6, wherein said log is molded
with one longitudinal side having a flat surface for resting on
log-supporting means in a fireplace.
9. A process as set forth in claim 6, wherein said superficially
adhering pyrogenic flame coloring matter is in particulate form.
Description
1. Field
This invention relates to artificial fireplace logs having
pyrogenic coloring matter which produces colored flames upon being
burned.
2. State of the Art
Although many attempts have been made to produce a commercially
acceptable artificial fireplace log which would exhibit colored
flames upon ignition of the log and continuously until the log is
consumed, prior to the making of this invention no such logs were
available on the market. It has been common practice to sprinkle
flammable metallic salts on burning natural logs to produce locally
colored flames for short periods of time, but this practice does
not produce sustained coloration of the flames from the time the
log is ignited until final expiration of the flame.
OBJECTIVES
It was a purpose in making this invention to produce an artificial
log which would burn with various colored flames continuously from
ignition of the log to final consumption thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The process of the invention is practiced by formulating an
artificial log mix containing combustible materials. The customary
mix in use today and the one preferred for use with this invention
is a mix consisting essentially of sawdust and wax. An effective
amount of preferably dry, discrete particles of pyrogenic coloring
matter for imparting coloration to the flames is admixed with the
log to distribute them throughout the mix. The log mix containing
the pyrogenic coloring matter is molded into a log, and an
additional effective quantity of discrete particles of pyrogenic
coloring matter is adhered to the surface of the log by dusting or
other suitable means, such as spraying, dipping or the like.
The resulting log, when burned, will produce colored flames
virtually upon ignition of the log and will provide such colored
flames continuously throughout the burning of the log. In a
preferred construction, one longitudinal side of the log has a flat
surface which is used for solidly seating the log upon a grate or
other log-holding means in a fireplace, so that the log does not
move or roll as it burns. This also permits the log to be placed in
a fireplace with the top and front side of the log facing the front
of the fireplace. It is preferred that the particles of pyrogenic
coloring matter be adhered to the surface of the log longitudinally
of the log along two adjacent sides, corresponding to the top and
front side of the log as it would be positioned in a fireplace.
This arrangement provides for efficient utilization of the
pyrogenic coloring matter, since the flames located at the bottom
and rear side of the log cannot be seen from the front of the
fireplace.
As disclosed in my allowed parent application, chlorinated vinyl
polymers and co-polymers provide a bright, colorful green flame
when used as flame colorants in fireplace fires. Such resins
decompose at relatively low temperatures, enabling them to be used
in any form with virtually any combustible material which can be
burned in a fireplace, including natural wood.
THE DRAWING The best mode presently contemplated for practicing the
invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates a log having a cylindrical configuration with
superficially adhering particles of pyrogenic coloring matter;
FIG. 2, a view of a log of the invention having a longitudinal,
flat side corresponding to the bottom of the log;
FIG. 3, a log of the invention having particles of pyrogenic
coloring matter adhering only to the top and front side of the log;
and
FIG. 4, another embodiment of the invention in which the artificial
log is in the form of a briquette.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT
As shown in FIG. 1, a log 10 of the invention is customarily
cylindrical in form and is composed primarily of combustible
materials admixed with flame coloring matter. Preferably dry,
discrete particles of additional pyrogenic coloring matter 11 are
distributed over the surface of the log and adhered thereto.
In FIG. 2, the preferred log 20 of the invention has a flat surface
21 which acts as the bottom of the log when it is placed on a grate
22 in a fireplace. The log is thereby prevented from rolling out of
position as when placed on a grate or when partially burned.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, a log 30 having a flat bottom 31 serves
the additionally important function of providing a reference point
for positioning the log in a fireplace when only the top 32 and
front sides 33 of the log 30 have adherent particles of pyrogenic
coloring matter 34. The resulting colored flames (not shown) along
the top 32 and front sides 33 of the log 30, when burned, are seen
from the front of the fireplace (not shown). The rear side 35 of
the log 30 does not have particles of pyrogenic coloring matter
adhered to its surface. If it is desired to wrap such a log in
paper or other combustible material for purposes of marketing,
directions as to placement of the log in the fireplace to achieve
maximum exposure of the colored flames can be printed clearly on
the wrapping material which is left on the log and serves as an aid
to igniting th log.
Although the traditional log-shaped artificial log having a flat
surface along one longitudinal side is preferred from both a
practical and an aesthetic standpoint, it is also within the
contemplation of the invention that such artificial logs may take
other shapes and forms. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the
log may take the form of a briquette 40 having a flat top 41, a
flat bottom 42, and a flat front side 43. In this embodiment, the
particles of pyrogenic coloring matter 44 can be adhered to the top
41 and front 43 of the briquette 40.
The log of the invention is not restricted to producing a single
colored flame. Several differently colored flames can be produced
either intermingled with one another, or in separate bands or
strips along the log. For example, the surface of the log can be
divided into three or four bands around the circumference of the
log. Each band contains coloring matter producing a differently
colored flame, resulting in a very pleasing and striking
effect.
Although in many instances it may be preferred to utilize the same
flame colorant within the log mix as is used to adhere
superficially to the surface of the log, this need not be so. As an
example, it is possible to use one type of flame colorant admixed
with the log mix, and a second type as the superficially adhering
coloring matter. It is also possible to combine different flame
colorants which produce differently colored flames and use the
combination to effect new flame colors by admixing the combination
with the log mix and/or using it as the superficially adhering
coloring matter.
The screen particle size of the flame colorant particles is
preferably 20 mesh or smaller for convenience in handling and
mixing. However, larger size particles can be used if necessary or
desirable.
As the log begins to burn and the temperature in the interior of
the log rises, the wax contained within the log vaporizes and
carries the decomposing, interior flame colorants with it to the
surface of the log, where they are consumed by the flames, thereby
providing additional coloration to the flames. The combination of
the adhered coloring matter on the surface of the log and the
distributed coloring matter within the log serve to provide a
continuous coloration of the flames throughout the burning of the
entire log. As the surface coloring matter is consumed, the
coloring matter within the log replenishes the surface coloring
matter available for coloring the flames.
The presence of flame colorant in the interior of the log without
additional adhered flame colorant adhered to the surface of the log
does not produce colored flames upon igniting the log. The flame
colorant admixed within the log does not begin to produce colored
flames until about 30 - 40 minutes after the log has been ignited.
For instantly colored flame to appear as the log is ignited there
must be additional amounts of superficially adherent flame colorant
on the surface of the log. It has been found that faint coloration
of the flames can be perceived upon ignition with somewhat under
one-fourth ounce flame colorant adhered to the surface of the log.
Good color is achieved with about one-half ounce flame colorant,
and excellent color is attained with about three-fourths ounce
colorant. Amounts above three-fourths ounce can be employed, but
the cost of the colorants is substantial and increased amounts of
colorant increase the expense significantly without compensating
increase in brilliance of color over the colors exhibited with the
three-fourths ounce colorant. It is preferred to place the colorant
in a strip approximately 1/2 inch wide just at one side of the
center top of the log. The major portion of the colorant particles
adheres to the log at that point, but the remainder falls down the
side, or front, of the log to provide a light coating along the one
side of the log.
Polyvinyl chloride or other polyvinyl chlorinated resins in
combination with metallic salts known to impart coloration to
flames provides what appears to be a synergistic effect in
imparting coloration to flames. The synergistic effect has been
most significant when polyvinyl chloride has been mixed with copper
sulfate and used in accordance with the invention. Although either
the polyvinyl chloride or the copper sulfate alone will provide a
colored flame effect when used as set forth in the process of the
invention, an even brighter, more striking, turquoise coloration
effect is achieved when the two are combined in a formation which
is adhered to the surface of the artificial log. When such a
formulation is adhered to the surface of the log, it is sufficient
to use the chlorinated vinyl polymer alone in the log mix, thereby
achieving an economic advantage. It has been found advantageous to
facilitate the distribution of the particulate chlorinated vinyl
resins and/or metallic coloration salts by incorporating extenders,
such as ammonium chloride, in the colorants to more easily control
the concentration of the colorants within the log mix and on the
surface of the log.
As described above, the preferred composition for an artificial log
mix comprises sawdust and wax. The formulation can contain other
binders and additives which contribute to the stability of the log
if desired. However, other combustible materials and binders can
also be used in the process of the invention. For example,
paperwaste, wood chips, powdered coal, peat moss, and petroleum
coke, can be utilized as combustible materials. A preferred
apparatus for making the logs of the invention is described in my
co-pending allowed application entitled "Apparatus for Making
Artificial Fireplace Logs Having Colored Flames", U.S. Pat. No.
3,696,639.
The following example of a typical log mix and flame colorant
dusting formulation is provided for purpoes of illustration.
EXAMPLE
In a 450 lb. batch of log mix containing sawdust and wax which
produced 78 logs, the following ratios of supplementary ingredients
were employed:
A. A 12 lb. mixture of additives was prepared comprising:
2.4 lbs. polyvinyl chloride
4.2 lbs. copper sulfate
4.2 lbs. ammonium chloride
0.2 lbs. talc
2.0 lbs. wood flour
8 lbs. of the mixture was added to the log mix and
4 lbs. used for dusting the surface of the logs.
B. 4 lbs of polyvinyl chloride were added to the log mix, and 4
lbs. of the mixture described in (A) above were used for
dusting.
C. 2 lbs. of polyvinyl chloride were added to the log mix, and 4
lbs. of the mixture described in (A) above were used for
dusting.
Whereas this invention is illustrated and described herein with
respect to certain preferred forms thereof, it is to be understood
that many variations are possible without departing from the
inventive concepts particularly pointed out in the claims.
* * * * *